I’ve covered my share of SpotOn GPS dog fence reviews in the past, and though the software has advanced since the original 2019 release, the collar’s general look and vibe remained the same. This was true even with the SpotOn GPS Dog Fence Omni Series release in 2024.
But the SpotOn Nova Edition is something else altogether, a behemoth of a collar that looks fit for a Cane Corso, or maybe a werewolf, though it will fit neck sizes as small as 10″. Besides the intimidating new aesthetic, however, does the SpotOn Nova bring anything new to the table?
SpotOn has cemented itself at the pinnacle of the smart collar GPS fence system market, and the bold new look brings a few fresh cards to the table that strengthen its foundation. SpotOn was never just a dog collar, and this review will show you just how far the SpotOn Nova Edition has separated itself from the rest.
SpotOn Nova Edition
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Who This Review Is For (and Who Should Skip)
Like all invisible fence collars, the SpotOn has its strengths and weaknesses. The latter is especially true for consumers with small properties, living in densely packed suburban areas. Pet parents should be aware of a few limitations before getting sucked into the SpotOn Nova Edition’s aesthetic qualities.
Best For
- Property owners with large yards, farms, or rural land, especially if there is an electric fence that your dog needs to avoid
- Dogs with strong prey drives or escape tendencies
- Owners who want to avoid subscription fees or just prefer containment over tracking.
- Areas with weak or unreliable cell service, or those who live off-grid
- Multi-property owners (cabins, rental homes, vacation homes, etc.)
Not Ideal For
- Apartment-only dogs
- Very small dogs with neck sizes below 10″
- Owners on a strict budget
- Pet parents who prefer a lightweight collar that only tracks
- Homeowners with small properties in tightly-packed suburban areas
The SpotOn collar is pretty accurate and precise on a bad day, but it can’t overcome small yards, especially those that butt up against several others.
Now, even a small property owner surrounded by mostly rural countryside could still get away with using the SpotOn by cheating the invisible fence lines to something larger than their actual property. That’s more difficult to pull off in a neighborhood.
SpotOn Collar Evolution & Nova Edition Upgrade
As mentioned earlier, the SpotOn GPS Collar has been on the market since 2019, though it was in various concept and prototype stages as early as 2015. SpotOn’s goal, from the very beginning, was to pioneer GPS accuracy and no-subscription fencing for large properties. The result was rapid acclaim, though immediate reviews were a bit mixed.
In under a decade, SpotOn has gone from a premium, highly precise GPS collar to a tighter, more efficient device with an impressive new aesthetic design. GPS technology has come a long way in terms of civilian devices, and the Spoton takes full advantage.
SpotOn GPS Dog Fence Overview
Even with the Nova Edition currently on the shelves, the original SpotOn and the succeeding Omni remain exceptional devices, more than capable of providing dog owners with an invisible fence system that is dependable and accurate.
Excellent GPS Accuracy
The early 2019 models delivered on SpotOn’s 3-foot precision goals (10 feet under heavy tree cover). The original tech used the now-familiar 128-satellite True Location Technology and outperformed competitors in lab tests, whether it was tested against other GPS trackers or containment systems.
Long Battery Life
Though the SpotOn GPS Dog Fence takes a lot of heat for battery life, it’s actually exceptional, considering everything the collar is doing under the hood. The original SpotOn provided 24+ hours of tracking, and 30+ if dog owners opted only for the fencing features. It provided all-day use with nightly charging.
Flexible Boundary Creation
The unlimited custom fence creation option (from 1/2 acre+), keep-out zones, and off-grid capabilities were highly praised, especially with no subscription fees required for any of it. Whether customers wanted a fence boundary that passed through heavily wooded areas or followed river banks, the SpotOn provided it.
Reliability and Training
Right out of the gate, SpotOn was known for consistent tones, vibrations, static correction, and an effective dog training process. It built a strong customer support base, and the real-time tracking option naturally grew from that, despite the added subscription expense.
The static correction option is a controversial one (though it’s not a shock collar), but it is an “option.” You are under no obligation to use static correction with the SpotOn. In fact, you can leave the little contact points (without which the static feature is useless) in the box and never take them out.
No Base Station Required
To be fair, most GPS collar options are shifting away from base stations, like the Halo 5, several PetSafe variants, and Satellai, to name a few. However, base stations were more common then, and SpotOn removed that necessity from the equation. It keeps your dog contained all on its own, with the app serving as a control point.
No Cell Services Necessary
SpotOn doesn’t require cellular service, either for initial setup or ongoing use. Fencing relies entirely on GPS signals, using Bluetooth for smartphone app connection and setup.
With more homeowners opting for off-grid, micro-home living than ever before, the SpotOn GPS Fence simply makes sense. Plus, the fences are saved directly on the collar, so it will continue to work regardless of your phone.
What’s New in SpotOn Nova Edition
When I first opened the SpotOn collar box (pre-Omni series), I was a little taken aback by the collar’s design and bulk. Granted, SpotOn isn’t like Halo, which features a perfect fit system. You can purchase the SpotOn collar in different sizes, rather than adjusting it on the fly. You can see some of the general differences in my Halo Collar vs SpotOn collar review.
However, it was still a bit bulky, even for a Doberman, at least that’s what I thought at the time. Of course, we’re all used to regular collar aesthetics on dogs, so it just took a little time to adjust, and neither Ares nor Athena looked uncomfortable at any point.
This new design somehow seems bigger, though it maintains the same weight and roughly the same dimensions across all sizes. Though the aesthetic change is impressive, what’s going on beneath makes the SpotOn GPS Dog Fence a must-have for anyone who meets the above conditions and needs an impressive virtual containment system.
Improved GPS Accuracy
The SpotOn GPS Dog Fence Nova Edition features faster boundary recognition and, more importantly from my point of view (and many others, I’m sure), reduced GPS fence drift. That latter is crucial, especially for those whose properties are really close to the minimum SpotOn coverage.
It also features multi-band GNSS positioning, which means it tracks signals across multiple bands using GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, and BeiDou satellites. If your dog leaves the area, this device will let you know quickly.
In short, this dog collar is capable of correcting for distortions from the Earth’s atmosphere. It accomplishes this by comparing signals from different bands. It also reduces errors from signal reflections off buildings or trees.
Subscription-Free Operation
Yeah, this isn’t an upgrade over the Omni or previous iterations, but the SpotOn Collar Nova Edition continues to offer a major feature, despite all of the upgrades and sleek new design.
As long as you don’t need tracking, there are no monthly fees, a long-term cost benefit, and the optional subscription service is still there if you ever want the tracking option. It’s hard to beat a one-time purchase in the smart dog collar market.
Battery & Real-World Performance
The SpotOn Collar Nova Edition boosts active tracking battery time from 24+ hours to 33+ hours, and extended passive time from 30+ hours to 40+ hours. Again, that’s impressive considering all that’s going on under the hood.
Charging System
The original SpotOn Collar and succeeding Omni Edition included a USB-C cradle with two-point magnetic contacts. The Nova Edition takes a page out of the Halo playbook (Halo collar review), but does it better with a front-facing, 6-point magnetic charger with a USB-C cable that comes with the collar.
Not only is it an aesthetically slick look, but it’s also more intuitive because there is nothing above or below the collar when setting it down, which makes it easier to pop the charger on and walk away.
Forest Mode
Forest Mode isn’t a new feature for the SpotOn Collar, but like all the carry-overs, it is more advanced than the Omni. The accuracy under heavy tree cover improved to 5 feet or fewer, versus the original 10 feet. Nova’s patented algorithm predicts dog movement and adapts the GPS sensitivity in real-time, which reduces the drift under tree canopies.
Keep Out Zones & Home Zones
The Keep Out Zone and Home Zone features remain unchanged, although they are both more accurate thanks to the advanced hardware and software of the SpotOn Collar. The Enhanced True Location AI refines the zones you create, whether you need to keep dogs out of a garden under open sky or keep them out of a barn under tree cover.
Collar Fit & Design
The buckle design on the SpotOn GPS Fence Collar is designed to keep the locking mechanism off the dog’s neck. Despite the collar’s size, my Dobermans hardly seem to notice the collars are there.
It’s a little more streamlined than the Omni, but still bulky, and may be a shade uncomfortable for small dogs, even ones with the smallest collar and minimum neck sizes.
- Small: 10″ to 14″
- Medium: 12″ to 18″
- Large: 17″ to 26″
Training Feedback Options
The training feedback options are the same, with a single addition: custom voice commands. The tone, vibration, and static correction options are still available, if needed, but the custom voice command option broadens the scope of potentially responsive cues, depending on your dog.
Mobile App Experience
One of the most impressive SpotOn GPS Collar features is the “walk-your-own-boundary” option. Instead of drawing out your fence boundaries on a small screen, featuring a satellite overview of your area (kind of like looking at Google Earth), you can walk your lines out.
This is a huge advantage over similar competitors because it allows dog owners to create very precise fences. For instance, let’s say you have a blueberry bush you want your dogs to stay away from, and it’s sitting close to the eventual perimeter. As you walk the perimeter, simply walk on the inside track of the bush, and it will become a part of the boundary.
The fences are saved inside the collar, but everything you need to see is in the SpotOn App. This includes Live Location Tracking, where your dog will leave little red breadcrumbs as he/she moves, a trail you can follow. Boundary breach alert tones are the same, but more precise, and it operates as a progressive system, going from a warning to a loud, solid beep if the dog approaches the boundary.
The training features are built into the app, including access to a free, 30-minute virtual session with a certified professional dog trainer. This makes it an effective training collar, on top of everything else. Plus, if you have many dogs, you can monitor them simultaneously through the app.
Fence enforcement consistency is incredible and highly accurate. Feel free to check out my video review. I was always impressed with the SpotOn GPS Fence Collar, both the original and Omni, but the Nova Edition definitely improves over both.
Performance & GPS Accuracy
Of course, nothing really matters if the GPS fence is just there for show. In fact, most consumers are less than satisfied with a collar that takes two or three seconds or more to activate once the virtual fence is breached.
Is that too much to ask? I have a SpotOn GPS fence set up in my yard, one in the nearby woods, and another in an open field beneath a power line run with a long electric fence.
I’ve tested all three more times than I can count (as well as conducting several “best GPS dog fence” coverages) using the SpotOn Omni, the original SpotOn, and the new SpotOn Nova Edition. For a GPS system that claims to be the best, backing it up with independent lab results, how does the Nova Edition stack up?
Boundary Response Speed
This part is crucial, at least to me, so I imagine it’s a similar feeling with others. After all, my Dobermans can hit 30 mph+ in a hurry, and I don’t need a slow collar that takes 3+ seconds to go off. Ares and Athena would be two or three football fields past the virtual fence at that point.
Fortunately, I got exactly what SpotOn advertised, and you can check out the results for yourself on the YouTube videos I’ve posted on it.
In fact, that’s pretty much been the case for all of the SpotOn collars I’ve tested, with occasional lag in the Omni and original versions. The SpotOn Nova Edition boundary response speed was immediate, and that’s a crucial selling point.
Accuracy Near Buildings & Trees
The SpotOn Nova maintained that accuracy under heavy tree cover and in my backyard, which is in the middle of a suburban neighborhood with a moderate tree canopy on cloudy days and clear ones. It’s not all about singular, one-off tests either. I test the boundaries, back off, and walk forward again to get an idea of how consistent these virtual fence collars are.
Out of the woods, open field, and backyard tests, the SpotOn Nova was only off by about a foot on the second try in the backyard test. It remained consistent, fast, and precise in all the other tests. Third-party testing confirms this, reporting 7x more accuracy with the SpotOn than other competing GPS collars.
Performance During Weather Changes
I mentioned this briefly above, but the SpotOn Nova maintained its accuracy, even with heavy cloud coverage, throughout all of my testing, and the older editions were nearly as effective. 151 satellites are hard to beat, and cloudy weather or rainy days aren’t enough to overcome SpotOn’s accuracy.
The collar is also designed to operate at its full capacity, regardless of the temperature in most places, from -30°F to 120°F+. It’s also waterproof to the IP67 standard, so weather simply doesn’t have an impact on it at all. Regardless of your dog’s location, time of day, weather, and terrain, SpotOn will find him/her.
Offline Reliability
One of SpotOn’s biggest selling points is the capability of creating a virtual fence anywhere, regardless of signal. The SpotOn will function as it always does, with precision and reliability. Those who live off-grid can expect more out of a SpotOn collar than any other on the market, unless you’re looking for something very specific, like a Garmin brand tracker.
No cell or Wi-Fi internet service is necessary to operate the SpotOn, so long as you can establish a Bluetooth connection with your smartphone. If you live in the sticks and your dog leaves the area, SpotOn is just as reliable as ever.
Fence Enforcement Consistency
SpotOn fence enforcement is just as reliable and precise as the rest of the system’s capabilities. When crossing the GPS fence, the collar emits the first warning sounds, progressing one level in intensity if your dog continues past the fence. Like most GPS collar variations, it has three normal settings: tone, vibration, and shock.
You can use all three, only one, or a combination of two. Upon returning to the safe zone, the collar returns to its original warning, then quiets completely once the dog is back and away from the GPS fence line.
Durability & Water Resistance
This SpotOn system, much like its predecessors, can take a beating. I’ve dumped it in water, mud, and left it outside in driving rain after tossing it into the yard.
My Dobermans play fight aggressively while wearing it. Other than a few smudges that wipe off with a little elbow grease, the collar is in as good a shape as it was when it came out of the box.
Overall Build Quality
For all the talk about the SpotOn GPS fence capabilities, the collar itself deserves as much or more attention, especially considering the hardware under the hood and SpotOn’s determination to protect it for the long haul.
All SpotOn GPS fence collars are manufactured in America, featuring a durable nylon strap and an upgraded nylon housing that feels like reinforced rubber.
Maybe not the best creative description, but the collar feels like you could run it over with a semi truck, and it would probably survive. As mentioned before, the IP67 rating is more than enough to keep anything other than carborane acid.
Strap Wear Over Time
I’m not exactly enamored with the SpotOn strap, whether it’s the Nova’s or previous versions. But that’s only because of the weird locking system, which makes it difficult to adjust incrementally.
However, the strap is undoubtedly strong. For all of the torture I’ve applied to it, trying to adjust one segment up or down, it’s just as solid as before.
Buckle Reliability
Again, fellow dog lovers who own SpotOn devices will probably know what I’m talking about with the stiff adjustment mechanism. But that’s also a two-sided affair.
On one end, it’s tough to change sizes. On the other hand, it’s not going anywhere once you lock it in place. It’s all flexible nylon, so you’d think it would be easy to adjust, but the material is seriously tough, a positive that also makes it difficult, if that makes sense.
Results After Water Exposure
I live in Florida, so naturally, monsoon-like weather is common enough. I took advantage of a recent deluge and tossed the collar out the sliding glass door, which was a part of my overall testing video on the World Animal Foundation channel. Then, I promptly forgot about it while I finished editing the other parts of the video.
When I retrieved it, several hours later, it popped onto the magnet charger just fine, powered up, and I finished running my tests without a hitch. It was just as capable of telling me my dog’s location as it was before. The IP67 holds up well, regardless of what I put the collar through.
Price, Subscription, & True Cost of Ownership
Upfront Cost
The current price for the SpotOn GPS fence collar is $999. Yup, it’s far from a cheap GPS collar for making a virtual fence or 5 and using them for containment. However, sales roll through here and there, and we offer a $75 discount if you use the code WAF in the “Discount Code” bar on the checkout page.
This $75 discount stacks with other discounts, like SpotOn’s offer of $100 off when purchasing more than one SpotOn GPS fence collar. If you’re in it for the tracking capability, SpotOn collars excel in that area as well, but you’ll have to pay for a subscription to add the feature to the collar.
SpotOn offers a monthly plan for $9.95, a yearly plan for $101.88 ($8.49/mo), and a 2-year plan for $179.76 ($7.49/mo). This is generally cheaper than the monthly, yearly, and two-year plans offered by some of SpotOn’s closest competitors, with a few exceptions in terms of tiers and other smart collar options.
SpotOn Nova Edition
Check updated price and use code ‘WAF’ to save $50 instantly on your ‘Spot on Collar’ purchase – Save Big! 🐾
Long-Term Value
If you only need containment, the SpotOn GPS fence has a lot to offer in the long-term. It has the best accuracy, precision, and long-term dependability of any other smart collar on the market. Since these collars are designed to last up to five years and beyond, a 5-year cost breakdown makes the most sense.
| Period/Collar | SpotOn Nova | Halo 5 (Bronze Plan) | PetSafe Guardian 2.0 |
| Upfront Cost | $924 (with our WAF discount) | $599 | $350 |
| Year 1 | $0 | $102 | $89 (First Year Discounts) |
| Year 2 | $0 | $102 | $100 |
| Year 3 | $0 | $102 | $100 |
| Year 4 | $0 | $102 | $100 |
| Year 5 | $0 | $102 | $100 |
| 5-Year Total | $924 | $1,109 | $839 |
Granted, the PetSafe Guardian 2.0 beats out the SpotOn after a 5-year period, but the difference in collar capabilities between the two is massive.
Pros & Cons
There’s a lot to love about the SpotOn GPS fence, and the biggest negative I often see is the price, which is understandable. Fortunately, you’re getting a lot for the expense.
| Pros | Cons |
| No Subscription required for GPS fencing and containment | Subscription required for live GPS tracking and escape alerts |
| Works without cellular service | High upfront cost |
| It’s an effective training collar | Large collar size |
| Accurate GPS-based fencing | The battery requires regular charging |
| Forest Mode is automatic for wooded environments | Not ideal for very small dogs |
| Flexible zone creation and multiple fences (fence, keep-out zones, home zones) | Only available online (primarily through SpotOn, affiliate links, or select online retailers), not at Pet World, Pet Smart, or other physical retailers |
A SpotOn GPS Fence has a ton to offer for the price, especially if you can truncate the cost somewhat by adding other dogs. As with most smart collars, you have to treat it like a training collar at first, until your dog becomes accustomed to how the invisible fence works.
It’s also a highly mobile device, allowing you to set up shop no matter where you are, whether it’s a dog park, five states away from home, or over at a friend’s house.
Final Verdict: Is SpotOn Nova Edition Worth It?
After spending so much time with the SpotOn predecessors, it was easy for me to pick out the subtle and more extreme differences with the new SpotOn Nova Edition. The most impactful of the bunch is SpotOn’s decision to go with a dual-band, dual-feed antenna, dual-feed GPS receiver system.
Splitting all of these reduced the interference even more than the already very precise Omni Edition. The most important feature is that it will keep your dog safe. The design is completely different, and the results are even better.
SpotOn didn’t just go for an aesthetic shake-up to move the needle on sales for a year or two. They made legitimate improvements that are working better than the Omni Edition in my real-world tests. I was already sold on the SpotOn, based on personal experience, so I didn’t expect to walk away even more impressed.
If you’re on the lookout for a smart collar that can literally do it all, contain your dogs without physical fencing, and provide you and your family with some peace of mind, the SpotOn Nova Edition is worthy of your attention.
FAQs
Does SpotOn use shock?
SpotOn does use shock, but it’s only an optional static correction feature, not something you have to use. In fact, the contact points never even have to go on the collar.
Can SpotOn work without cell service?
Yes, SpotOn can work without cell or Wi-Fi service. It remains a completely functional smart collar in off-grid environments, maintaining containment systems and tracking at its normal levels. All that’s needed is a Bluetooth connection with your phone to create a fence.
How accurate is GPS fencing?
GPS fencing accuracy, generally speaking, ranges from 3′ to 20′, limited by satellite drift, tree coverage, and single-band signals. SpotOn, however, excels at under 5′ with the Nova Edition, often 3′, with True Location technology.
What happens if the SpotOn battery dies?
If the SpotOn battery dies completely, the collar powers off, and all fencing and containment functions immediately cease, no more tones, vibrations, static corrections, or boundary breach warnings.
Is GPS safe for dogs?
Yes, GPS is safe for dogs. Scientific studies confirm that radiofrequency emissions from GPS collars fall well below international safety limits (ICNIRP), thousands of millions of times below thresholds.
Can the SpotOn be used on multiple properties?
Yes, the SpotOn can be used on multiple properties, with 200+ virtual fences (drawn or walked) set up anywhere you want, with seamless switching within the SpotOn app.
Does SpotOn have good customer service?
SpotOn offers friendly and generally knowledgeable customer service, with email and live chat handled by a small U.S. team and available Monday through Saturday during working hours.
Does the SpotOn come with a warranty?
Yes, the SpotOn comes with a one-year warranty with a refurbished warranty repair option and a 90-day return policy.
